ATLANTA--Boy and Girl Scouts who exemplify the qualities of active members of the Catholic Church were recognized at the Archdiocesan Scout Mass held June 28 at Sacred Heart Church.

Father Stephen Churchwell, pastor, was celebrant of the Mass which honored those who completed requirements in three educational programs and recognized award recipients in several categories.

St. Ann's and St. Joseph's parishes, both in Marietta, were honored with the Bishop's Trophy. This award is presented to the outstanding Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

The scouting focus of the award is based on the size of the unit and its advancements and service projects for the church and community. The religious focus of the award covers religious emblems, retreats and camp-outs. The St. Ann units are Troops 5036, 5042 and 7023, while the unit from St. Joseph is Troop 287.

The Marian program, which had 19 recipients this year from nine parishes, was created to help girls understand Mary as their model of openness and spirituality. Through a series of projects, discussions and liturgical celebrations, participants aim to develop a Christian spirit of hope and faith and gain new insight into themselves, their friends, parents and the world as a whole.

Forty-nine Boy Scouts from 16 parishes were recognized for completing Ad Altare Dei. This program, created to help Catholic Scouts develop a Christian way of life through a faith community, is made up of seven chapters, each one covering one of the sacraments as primary means of spiritual growth.

By looking at experiences within his own life, a Scout in Ad Altare Dei tries to discover how the sacraments interrelate with his life experience and faith knowledge. The program seeks to help participants understand the vital link between being a Scout and being a Catholic.

Four candidates were awarded the Pope Pius XII emblem. This program, made up of Explorers, Varsity and Boy and Girl Scouts of high school age, requires participants to look at how being a Christian affects one's daily life, to evaluate one's talents for the purpose of choosing a vocation that strengthens church participation and gives each candidate an opportunity to share and practice his or her religion among peers.

Earning the Pope Pius XII emblem were Christopher Lombard and Christopher Napoli of Holy Trinity, Peachtree City; Sylvester Tan of Christ the King, Atlanta, and Arthur Quanstrom of Transfiguration, Marietta.

Four adult officers of Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal. This award recognizes notable contributions in this area of youth ministry. Recipients were Diane Frankenfield of Prince of Peace; Buford, Karen Madore of St. John Neumann, Lilburn, Sarah Rihm of St. Oliver Plunkett, Snellville, and Patricia Killebrew of St. Ann, Marietta.

The Pelican emblem, awarded to 11 recipients from seven parishes, goes to an adult who works with the Boy Scout program of a parish or to a Catholic working with a Scout unit not sponsored by a church.

The International Awareness emblem was awarded to Sylvester Tan of Christ the King and to Elvira McClain of Our Lady of the Assumption, Atlanta. The emblem is given in recognition of the increased awareness of scouting in the Catholic Church worldwide.

Six area scouting units received the Pope Paul VI National Unit award for helping improve the effectiveness of the individual unit and its adult leadership and for providing top-quality Scout programming in religion, vocation and education. They are Troop 522 at St. John Neumann, Troop 287 at St. Joseph's, Marietta, Pack 545 and Troop 545 at Holy Family, Marietta, Pack 1776 at St. Ann's and Troop 1776 at Knights of Columbus Council 8376.

The Golden Bow Award went to six area scouting units for their leadership in making Scout youth ministry available to every Catholic church.